Paper Making Class in the News!

Please click on this link to learn about the class recently taught by our very own Celeste Johnston, "Making Paper from Plant Fibers" at Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden, published 11/8/2015 in the Richmond Times Dispatch:

http://www.richmond.com/life/collection_bfc45e44-84cc-11e5-a722-b34d92f02a3c.html

Well done, Celeste!

My Plant is "Leaving on a Jet Plane..."

by Judy Thomas

One of the first things I did on a recent trip to South Florida was go to a tropical plant nursery to buy a cool plant to draw, one that was not easily available in Virginia, nor as lush. I found a stunning Indonesian pitcher plant, Nepenthes alata.  I drew it, and, as I did, I fell in love, as we botanical art people often do with a plant.  I had purchased it thinking I would leave it behind, but.....

I had a thought "Can I take it back on the plane?" I knew Hawaii banned any plants or plant material from going in or out of the state, except certified ones (out of the state), to prevent invasions by exotics.  I knew Florida and California also restricted plants brought in. I also knew that some states banned plants that were pests in that state.  But could I bring a commercially propagated plant home with me?

I first checked the airlines.  Their main concern is that the plant not make a mess, so sealing it in a 5 gallon, zipper-closing bag or other waterproof container was necessary. Second, the plant had to be small enough to be carried on as your "personal item" and, hence, fit under the seat in front of you. Check and check.  I also knew that N. alata could not survive in Virginia and was not on the noxious plant list for the state.  So, good there.

Then I checked the TSA website and found that houseplants are allowed, as long as they are small enough to go through regular screening...and could possibly trigger a delay for special screening.  So, we got to the airport early.  And voila!  The plant went through the x-ray with nary a second look by the TSA and onto the plane!

I have finished drawing the plant, but now....how to keep it alive?  I really, really love it.  Anyone have a used aquarium they want to get rid of?  I have a heat mat!

Mr. N. alata in his bag:

Color Pencil Session

Color Pencil Group Meeting 

by Judy Thomas

Nine color pencil artists got together today at the Atlee Library in Mechanicsville, VA. Most are members of CVABA, but not all.  We did a fun activity: we discussed and  made a variety of compositions using interesting fall, botanical subjects, from Osage Orange fruit, to winter squash and acorns!  Everyone picked a subject for the day to draw.
Some of the compositions we played around with:

ASBA 2015: Miami

Reflections Contributed by Gail Goodrich Harwood and Paula Blair

When asked to describe their favorite parts of the ASBA Conference, Gail wrote:

“- The Small Works exhibition featuring works from artists new to botanical art alongside world-renowned artists.

- All beautiful works, even more so because of the use of neutral, standard frames.  The most instructive aspect for me was the range of imaginative composition treatments.

- The Portfolio Sharing session - loved the opportunity to look at both finished and in-progress works.

- Classes - the chance to learn new techniques and tips for correcting mistakes.

-Hanging out with 200 people who are completely into botanical art!”

And Paula wrote:

“Ditto to what Gail said!

-I loved meeting so many interesting people who also love art, botanical art, flowers, gardens, etc.  My workshops/classes were great! 

-I got to meet some of the people whose names I see in the Journal - all were welcoming, encouraging, friendly . . .

-I sat by Lea Rohrbaugh and Catherine Watters on the bus going to Vizcaya and took a class with Derek Norman . . .

-Now I am fired up to go to Pittsburgh 2016 and Filoli 2017!!"

Plants and Pollinators

Plants and Pollinators

By Judy Thomas

Today at the CVABA meeting we had a presentation on plants and their pollinators by educator and member Susan Estes.  This is the theme for our next show, in June 2016, at the Tuckahoe Public Library.  Susan gave many examples of the relationships between plant structure and the pollinators they evolved to attract.

We also discussed the exhibit, so stay tuned for more details!

An excellent talk, thank you Susan!

Atlee Library Exhibit

2015 Exhibits, Part II

Atlee Library Exhibit

By Judy Thomas

In the fall of 2015, we had an exhibit at the Atlee Library in Hanover, Co, VA.  The library was hosting a panel about the "Flora of Virginia."  (Photos courtesy Gail Goodrich Harwood)

As a few members had been giving free art classes at the library, we were approached by the library manager about staging a small exhibit of plants that are in the "Flora..."  So...we did!

We received many compliments about the exhibit!

2015 Exhibits

2015 Exhibits, Part 1

by Judy Thomas

Since last I posted, the CVABA has had two exhibits, our annual exhibit at the Tuckahoe Public Library in June and a new exhibit, at the Atlee Public Library. The Tuckahoe Library was our annual exhibit, entitled "Weeds are Flowers, Too, Once You Get to Know Them" from a quote by A.A. Milne.  Both exhibits were well-received by visitors to both libraries.

We wanted an educational component for the Tuckahoe "Weeds..." exhibit, so artists wrote up an explanation about the weed, including what interested them about it.  For example, Susan Estes wrote about her dandelion:

"This little plant is one of nature’s “tough guys”. Dandelions are found worldwide and seem to thrive in some of the most inhospitable habitats — driveways, walkways, and roadsides. The characteristic yellow flower provides food for bees. Leaves are lance-shaped and deeply toothed.  The name “dandelion” comes from “Dente de lion”, the Old French phrase for “lion’s tooth."

Lizzie McCowan wrote about pokeweed: 

"This glorious plant hardly looks like a weed, but I find it to be one. It grows at the edge of the woodland in our new garden and spreads easily through the flowerbeds...and takes much digging out as it spreads from the root. It can grow to eight feet and I particularly like the manner in which the flowers ripen through green to purple imitated by the stems and the racemes eventually droop with the weight of the berries. It is toxic, the root and berries being exceptionally so, but the boiled leaves have been used occasionally in pies.  I do not expect to try this!"

Here is an excerpt from Angel Zhao's write up on Woods' Forget-Me-Not:

"I first encountered forget-me-nots in my parents’ front yard in Toronto, Canada. A few of them sprouted in a small area originally designated for other plants. We left them alone because we liked the lovely blue blossoms. Little did we know more would spring up by the next year, slowly over-taking the other plants. The seed pods propagate by attaching to clothing or fur and getting transported to other areas. Some birds would also pick up the seeds. Since we left the plants unchecked, they were able to self-seed and expand the coverage. After a few years, the forget-me-nots have become the main feature of that small section of land. In the meantime, we tried to prevent them from spreading to the rest of the yard by digging up the largest patch. They continued to pop up here and there to this date."

Here are some images from the "Weeds" exhibit (photos courtesy Judith Towers):

We also had our usual display cases, depicting aspects of botanical art, nature journaling, as well as other arts and crafts related to botanical art:

Thanks to Judith Towers for all her hard work in organizing the show!

Public Domain

Here is a public domain (free and open) source for a very early herbal (1440!), those books that told apothecaries, physicians and others what plants to use for various needs...the forerunner of today's modern botanical illustrations!

Tractatuss de Herbis
http://publicdomainreview.org/collections/tractatus-de-herbis-ca-1440/?utm_content=bufferb1bfb&utm_medium=social&utm_source=twitter.com&utm_campaign=buffer

Judy

A Few Resources

Some edifying reads!

For those of you who don’t know about this, John Muir Laws posts simple tutorials (text and video) on various aspects of nature drawing, including plants.  They are good refreshers!

http://www.johnmuirlaws.com/art-and-drawing/how-to-foreshorten-leaves-advanced

Composition summed up, a good read and reference:
http://www.artistsandillustrators.co.uk/how-to/Floral-Nature/1242/how-to-setup-a-composition


Judy Thomas

Lara Call Gastinger's Spring Classes

Lara Call Gastinger, botanical artist and illustrator for The Flora of Virginia, is offering classes this spring.  To find out more, go to:

http://laracallgastinger.com/news.php

Hawaii Workshop

By Judy Thomas

Images from today, March 18:

National Tropical Botanical Garden

A few things that caught my eye today on Kaua'i:

Botanical Drawing in Color Workshop: Kaua'i

By Judy Thomas

I am 4,898 miles away from Richmond, VA, as I write this, taking Wendy Hollender's two-week, tropical botanical, colored pencil class.  I am learning a lot from Wendy, but also doing my own thing here, a great combination.  The plants and topography at so very different fom Virginia, especially the sharp, high, volcanic mountains.

The first day I was here, my most excellent roommate, Karen, and I drove up Waimea Canyon Road, an amazing place, the "Grand Canyon" of Hawaii. Like it's namesake, the canyon is a symphony of colors, but, unlike it, green abounds.  As the elevation increased, the plants shifted. We saw some alpine Hawaiian blueberries, the Koa trees (used to make wood implements and canoes) and a multitude plants we did not know.  Some scenes:

Class started Monday the 10th and we jumped in illustrating the inedible Natal plum.  I also bought "Heliconia Grocertstoreii" to draw as well, and worked on that.  Also started a star fruit, wood rose (did the sketches, matched colors, so I can finish then up later) and the work I will complete for the show here, the Hawaiian cotton plant:

A highlight of the trip was the tour of the McBride native gardens, led by an ethnobotanist, and the Allerton ornamental gardens, by  David Lorence, Director of Science and Conservation.  It was an indescribable experience, each turn in the trail presented a new plant, new vista...all stunning.  Today we draw in the garden, and I will be working on the tree jade plant.

Next time, a bit more on Wendy's classes...

Aloha!

Drawing Day

Today has been a drawing day...do you know how hard it is to stay indoors in paradise and draw?  Well, actually, not too difficult, given the array of plants we have all been illustrating!  I am working on Hawaiian cotton and a green jade flower cluster:

Tomorrow, I hope to work more on my neglected nature journal...

Aloha!

Nimrod Art Exhibit

From Laura Loe, Director of Nimrod Hallartists' retreat

"Help us to celebrate the 2014 Nimrod Summer of Art!

A showing of work from artists who attended Nimrod Hall in the Summer of 2014 will be displayed at the Stewart Gallery on Main Street in Richmond, Virginia. All mediums, sizes and prices are represented.

Friday Night, March 6th, is the opening reception from 5:30-8 pm with an afternoon reception on Sunday, March 8th from 1-3pm. The show will run throughout the month. For hours and times please see the website www.stewartgalleryonmain.com

To link to the exhibit page:

http://www.stewartgalleryonmain.com/exhibits.html"

Color Pencil Techniques Video

By Judy Thomas

Here is a nice, 17-minute video summary of color pencil techniques by Ann Swan.  I recommend it to all those interested!

https://vimeo.com/120692268

Competition

By Judy Thomas

The Hudson Valley Seed Library has announced this annual competition for seed pack art.  Submissions due by March 18 (online only).

For more information, go to: 

http://www.seedlibrary.org/blog/call-for-pack-artists-2015/

Botanical Art in Stitches

Botanical Art in Stitches

By

Anne McCahill

Botanical Art in Stitches features the works of a dedicated group of stitchers who express  their love of nature with needle and threads using a variety of  techniques.  The show is open from March 1 thru 31 at the Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden Library.  A demonstration will take place on March 7 from 1-4 pm.

Please take a moment to visit!

30-Day Challenge

Our "Show and Tell" of some of the 30-Day Challenge work at our recent CVABA meeting:

Orchid Show

Paula Blair, CVABA member, won "Best in Show" at the recent Virginia Orchid Society Show held recently at Strange's Nursery.  Way to go, Paula!

Project Started, Inspired By, the 30-Day Challenge!

Ellen Keane, an enthusiastic participant in the 30-Day Challenge, was inspired to complete this lovely hibiscus!

Hawaii Workshop

By Judy Thomas

I am getting ready for Wendy Hollender's 2-week botanical art workshop at the National Tropical Botanical Garden in Kauai in March.  One task: make nature journals!

 I will post from there!

Printmaking at Lewis Ginter

         By Celeste Johnston

Printmaking series: these fun and quick classes introduced students to relief printing from
foam, Lino and wood blocks. Students carved their blocks and explored printing them on 
printmakers paper, rice, mulberry and handmade paper as well as cotton and linen fabric.
The blocks can be used multiple times for other projects. 

In in the future intermediate and advanced class would featured tools and techniques and
more printing options.

The Fibonacci Sequence

 By Judy Thomas

In January, Celeste Johnston and I were lucky to take a class with Mary Ellen Carsley, a gifted teacher of art.  Mary Ellen teaches art at the Severn School in MD, the United States Bitnic Garden/ Corcoran School and other venues.  Celeste and I had both taken her scientific illustration class 2 years ago and, like last time, we were so impressed!  She is a great teacher, able to move students along on the process, demonstrating clearly and effectively and giving individual attention. Here are some scenes from the class:

Top left clockwise: creating the golden rectangle; the papaya, a great Fibonacci plant;

In-class review; "field sketching"in the USBG and: my thumbnails of tillandsias.

Mary Ellens next weekend class will be in April, and is a subject class: Cacti and Succulents.  I highly recommend it! By March 1, the sign up info should be available at: http://www.usbg.gov/programs-and-events

Day 29: The 30-Day Challenge:

Ellen Keane:  Completed hibiscus:

Anne McCahill, Swiss Chard:

Judith Towers: Day 29 and 30: Loblolly Pine:

THE END!

Day 30 of the Challenge:
Kay Lindberg (black flower) and
Judy Thomas: Cherries: both prints:

Barbara Chadwick: day 29-30:

Gail Goodrich Harwood: Day 23-30:

THE END!  Except for a few late submissions...

Day 28

Ellen Keane:

Judy Thomas:

Kay Lindberg:

Towers: Day 27 and 28:  Common teasel:

Barbara Chadwick: begonia leaf:

Day 27

Ellen Keane:

Anne McCahill: Magnolia cones:

Kay Lindberg:

Barbara Chadwick: almond: